Hot air balloon flights are usually full of positive emotions, beautiful views of the surrounding landscape and adventure. However, there are sad exceptions that have ended with disastrous consequences for travelers.
For many travelers from different countries, hot air balloon flights are often on the “to do in your life list”. Floating in a small basket, kept afloat by hot gases, is definitely an adventure of a lifetime.
The balloons offer a magical view of the landscapes. People have an unforgettable experience in air sailing. Unfortunately, there are negative points. After all, hot air balloon rides are associated with the possibility of risk and accidents. This fact is evidenced by the catastrophes described below.
5. Accident at Ljubljana Marshes, Slovenia, 2012
On 23 August 2012, six people were killed in an accident on the territory of the Ljubljana Marshes in Central Slovenia. A balloon with 32 passengers was caught in a thunderstorm. With a sharp deterioration in the weather, the pilot of the balloon tried to make an emergency landing, which failed due to a sudden strong gust of wind. The balloon collided with the trees and burst into flames.
Four people were burned out beyond recognition. They were an elderly woman, a married couple and their 11-year-old daughter. Ten passengers required resuscitation. In the aftermath of the disaster, the country's government temporarily suspended ballooning tours, and introduced stricter rules and regulations for piloting. The pilot who flew the balloon on that tragic trip was accused of inattention. However, he denied such allegations.
4. Hot air balloon accident in Carterton, New Zealand, 2012
The passengers of the balloon were on an exciting journey that turned into a terrible nightmare. Their balloon hit a high-voltage power line, caught fire, disintegrated and crashed. It happened on January 7, 2012 in Carterton, New Zealand. All 11 people on board, including ten passengers and 1 pilot, died in this crash.
Investigating this tragedy revealed that the balloon pilot made the mistake of choosing to maneuver along the high-voltage line, rather than using the rapid descent system to land. Subsequently, a blood test showed that a drug, tetrahydrocannabinol, was present in the pilot's body.
3. Accident in Alice Springs, Australia, 1989
The third of the most shocking hot air balloon crashes occurred on 13 August 1989 near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. The two balloons collided in flight, killing 13 people. While climbing, the lower balloon enveloped the basket of the upper one and exploded as a result of this impact. He began to sway violently and quickly fell to the ground, killing all 12 passengers and the pilot.
The passengers in the upper balloon were also hit in this collision. Balloon pilots were blamed for this tragedy, whose negligence and erroneousness caused the disaster. The balloon pilot was found guilty and was serving a prison sentence for manslaughter.
2. Accident at Lockhart, Texas, 2016
On July 30, 2016, sixteen people died in a terrible accident. The balloon, model Kubicek BB85Z, was flown by the pilot of the Heart of Texas Balloon Rid. On the day of the accident, 15 passengers and the pilot took to the skies from the Fentress air park at 07:09 local time.
Half an hour later, their ball broke through the power lines. The balloon immediately fell into a field near Lockhart, Texas and burst into flames, killing everyone on board.
1. Accident in Luxor, Egypt, 2013
The worst hot air balloon disaster occurred on February 26, 2013, near Luxor, Egypt. Air tours are very popular with tourists in Egypt. The stunning landscapes of the country open up from above. The tragedy happened during the flight of the N-425 balloon to the observation deck, when a fire broke out on board a few meters from the ground. This was due to a fuel leak, and attempts to land safely were unsuccessful.
The balloon flew even higher. Seven passengers jumped out of the basket, crashing to death, the rest were killed when the balloon exploded in the air and fell to the ground. The sound of the explosion was so loud that it could be heard from several kilometers away. The bodies of the passengers were scattered throughout the crash site. As a result of the accident, 19 passengers died, of whom 18 died at the scene and one in the hospital.
Only one passenger from Great Britain and a balloon pilot managed to escape. Both were seriously injured and burned. For quite a long time, the operation of balloons was prohibited. Later, a maintenance engineer and balloon pilot were arrested on charges of negligence.
We recommend watching:
No matter how frightening the disasters that have occurred, subject to safety precautions, a balloon is a reliable transport. Flying on it will give you a lot of positive emotions.
